Saturday, January 26, 2008

Shelby Week

Shelby, my niece who lives outside St. Louis, finally let me come visit and help out while she is finishing her last radiation treatments. She has had lymphoma, which was diagnosed in September. She underwent almost 4 months of chemotherapy, but had many others who loved her who came to help her and her young family get through the hard parts of this treatment. Luckily, the chemo did its job and the radiation is to ensure the cancer doesn't return. Since the worst was over, Shelby has been back to work at her computer as the graphic designer for Bazzill Paper, my sister and brother-in-law's cardstock company. Of course, weeks of chemo have left their effects and the radiation saps much of her strength and stamina. I cringed when I thought of her taking two little ones daily to her radiation treatments with her. So I watched the kids while she went on her own and did my best to make it easier for her to finish the Bazzil catalog. A little too much chatting, but it was so fun for me to get better acquainted with Shelby's cute children and husband Jaymeson, who is in his last months of residency in radiological oncology at Washington University in St. Louis. I got to observe first hand what a positive, funny, hardworking, faith filled person Shelby is. I am grateful I got to spend this week with the Strouds.

Here are Camryn (Duck), Mason, Preslie, and Sienna (SiSi) as the girls leave for school. I will forever think of Mason when I blow dry my hair alone or get out my vaccuum. He loved machines!
No one to take this picture at the airport. Leave it to me to wait until the last day to take pictures!

Isn't she still so cute!